John Pratchitt
John Pratchitt (1833-1916)
1917 Obituary [1]
JOHN PRATCHITT was born at Chester in 1833, and was educated at Chester College.
After having served an apprenticeship with Messrs. Hick, Hargreaves and Co., of Bolton, he went as draughtsman to the firm of Pratchitt and Blaylock in 1860, whose works were then situated at Long Island Iron Works, Carlisle, but were subsequently removed to the Denton Iron Works, Carlisle.
In 1866 he became managing partner of the firm, the title being altered to Pratchitt, Blaylock and Pratchitt, and in 1870 to Pratchitt Brothers.
He was connected with the carrying out of several large schemes, both sewage and water, namely, at Tunbridge Wells, Dorking, Exmouth, Worthing, Southend-on-Sea, Reading, etc. He designed and carried out the pumping machinery for the late King Edward VII at Sandringham, and supervised the making of machinery for sewage plants at Rangoon and Henley.
His activities were not confined to pumping machinery, as he travelled in Germany and Greece and made several engines and grinding mills for both countries, as well for this country, and when the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was in construction his firm built many of the stations, etc.
His death took place at Carlisle on 9th December 1916, at the age of eighty-three.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1867.